Âncoras

The site holds nine anchors, and a single dive usually reveals five to seven of them. They were probably left stuck there during attempts to anchor and save the ships Cap Frio, Germânia, Bretagne and Maraldi. On the way between the anchors you see many fish and corals of various species. Âncoras lies within the Baía de Todos os Santos APA (environmental protection area).

One of these ships, the French steamer Bretagne, left Salvador for Marseille on 9 September 1903; off the Forte São Marcelo the rudder chain broke, the ship drifted and the current threw it onto the rocks, where it struck the remains of the Germania. Two tugboats were sent to the Bretagne, but they could not save it and returned to port. Seeing the extent of the accident, the captain took his own life with a gunshot; the ship stayed stuck on the rocks for several days, and there were attempts at looting. The mixed packet ship Maraldi, whose sinking is recorded on 28 February 1875, was coming from Buenos Aires with leather and wool bound for Antwerp when, entering Salvador, it was carried by the strong current at the harbour entrance and ran aground at 9 p.m. on a reef close to the shore, between the Forte da Barra and the Forte de Santa Maria. It stayed aground and was being unloaded for more than two months, until a storm broke the ship apart; during the disembarkation, a boat capsized and two crew members drowned.

In Salvador it is possible to dive all year round, but winter tends to reduce the options because of sea conditions.